Chapter Three: The Stepmother Pays a Visit

This time, the ones who came were Duke Shen, Shen Yi'an, and Shen Qianxue's birth mother, Madam Cui—her own father and mother. It seemed Shen Qianxue had already rushed to them with her complaints. Shen Qianmo remained languidly reclining on the bed; with her grievous injuries yet unhealed, no one would fault her for not rising to greet them.

When the two entered, she made no move, merely addressed them, “Father, Mother.” The salutation felt awkward on her tongue, her voice stiff, her expression somewhat unnatural.

Neither seemed to mind. In Shen Yi'an’s eyes, his eldest daughter had always been an odd one—each time she saw him, she would stand mutely to the side, not daring to meet his gaze, so unlike her younger sister who was ever sweet-tongued, considerate, and dear to his heart. Whenever he saw Shen Qianmo, he could not help but think of her birth mother, his first wife, Xie Yun.

Xie Yun had been chosen for him by his parents, the legitimate daughter of the esteemed Xie family of Suzhou. The Xie family was renowned for its literary heritage; the Bìshan Academy they established had produced countless talents for the Great Sheng Dynasty, with over half the officials in court hailing from its halls. Yet, the strict upbringing Xie Yun received made her character too rigid and proper, lacking in the charms that make married life delightful. Thus, what Shen Yi'an felt for her was more respect than affection.

He favored women like Madam Cui—gentle, winsome, adept at pleasing him and catering to his masculine pride. After giving birth to a daughter, Xie Yun’s health failed, and she passed away three years later. During those years, the person he most respected in the household, his father the old Duke, also died. Ignoring his mother’s objections, he made Madam Cui his wife and entrusted Xie Yun’s daughter to her care. From then on, his legitimate eldest daughter rarely crossed his mind.

A year ago, the Prince of Rong’s manor sought an alliance through marriage. He had intended to betroth his younger daughter Shen Qianxue to the heir of the Prince of Rong, but his mother vehemently opposed. Since the old Duke’s death, the Dowager Madam Shen had lived in seclusion in the Buddha Hall, removed from household affairs, yet upon hearing of his decision, she emerged solely to rebuke him, saying, “There is a proper order between elder and younger, legitimate and concubine-born. How can a concubine’s daughter marry into the Prince of Rong’s family as the heir’s consort?”

Shen Yi'an's face flushed with shame. These words struck directly at his own sore spot, for he himself was not a legitimate son, nor born of the Dowager Madam. He was the child of a concubine, and his birth mother died in childbirth. It was the Dowager Madam who raised him. Had his elder brother Shen Weian not died young, the title of Duke would never have passed to him after the old Duke’s death.

He had no choice but to change the betrothal to Shen Qianmo. For this, Madam Cui and Shen Qianxue wept and made scenes before him more than once, but faced with the Dowager Madam’s authority, he was powerless.

Madam Cui hated the Dowager Madam all the more for this. That meddlesome old woman had shown her nothing but coldness from the day she married in. Even now, secluded in the Buddha Hall, she found ways to foil her plans! The more Madam Cui thought on it, the more resentful she became. Now, seeing Shen Qianmo sickly and scarred by fire, she felt some of her anger abate.

Feigning concern, Madam Cui stepped forward, her face full of pity. “Poor child, how did you come to such harm? Let Mother take a look—how is your injury?” As she spoke, she reached to remove the veil from Shen Qianmo’s face.

Why are mother and daughter so alike, both so eager to see what’s beneath my veil? Shen Qianmo sighed inwardly. She instinctively drew back, turning away from Madam Cui’s hand. “Thank you for your concern, Mother,” she replied blandly. “But my injuries are rather frightening—I fear they might alarm you. Perhaps you could look when they have healed.”

Madam Cui forced a smile. “Child, what are you saying? I am your mother. No matter what you look like, how could I ever despise my own daughter?”

Indeed, Madam Cui’s skin was thick, and her acting superb. Shen Qianmo thought, Since you’re so eager, I might as well oblige you. With that, she pulled off her veil and faced Madam Cui directly. “Mother’s kindness is appreciated. It was I who worried too much,” she said, each word pronounced distinctly.

Madam Cui had not expected Shen Qianmo to reveal her face so abruptly. She was momentarily stunned, but when she saw the scar—a mottled, fearsome mark stretching from beneath her left ear to her chin, not large but, having just been treated with ointment, black and red and ghastly—she cried out and stumbled back, her face stricken with terror.

Shen Qianmo had deliberately meant to startle Madam Cui, and seeing her so frightened, she inwardly sneered. She retied her veil, feigning distress. “I’ve frightened you, Mother. Please forgive me,” she said, her eyes glistening with sadness.

Shen Yi'an, too, was shocked upon seeing Shen Qianmo’s face. He hadn’t realized just how grievous her injuries were. A young lady with her looks ruined—if the Prince of Rong’s manor found out, would the match still stand? Seeing her lower her eyes with such sorrow, he actually felt a pang of pity. Glancing at Madam Cui’s frightened expression, he found himself somewhat displeased—she had just claimed she’d never mind, yet now her reaction belied her words.

Madam Cui, feeling wronged under Shen Yi'an’s glare, said plaintively, “My lord, I’m only worried. Now that Mo’er is like this, what shall we do about her engagement to the Prince of Rong’s heir?”

Mentioning this only made Shen Yi'an’s head ache all the more. Yet seeing Shen Qianmo’s sorrowful look, he softened and asked gently, “Mo’er, has the physician seen you? What did he say?”

Shen Qianmo lifted her head and replied, “Thank you for your concern, Father. The physician just came and changed my medicine. He said that burns are not like ordinary wounds—they take time to heal, and there’s no guarantee my face will ever be as it was.”

So, it might never heal? Madam Cui rejoiced inwardly. If that was the case, this girl’s engagement to the Prince of Rong’s heir was surely doomed, and Xue’er’s opportunity would come. Affecting sadness, she said, “My lord, Mo’er is so pitiful. Once as lovely as a flower, and now… I’ve heard the imperial physician Wang is renowned for treating burns and scalds. Perhaps we should petition His Majesty to invite the doctor here to examine Mo’er?”

In this way, the news of Shen Qianmo’s disfigurement would soon spread. The Prince of Rong’s household was bound to hear of it.

Shen Yi'an knew of Doctor Wang’s reputation. Hearing Madam Cui’s suggestion, he agreed. He too was pondering how to explain Mo’er’s injury to the Prince of Rong’s family. Each was preoccupied with their own thoughts, and after a short while, they left.

With the original Shen Qianmo’s memories intact, she was well aware of her engagement to Meng Yunce, the Prince of Rong’s heir, though she had no impression of him at all—they had clearly never met. According to what she recalled, Meng Yunce was a notorious libertine, frequenting brothels and pleasure houses. She had asked both Lvzhu and Madam Xu to confirm this, and they did so.

Lvzhu, indignant, added, “Miss, you may not know, but I’ve heard Madam is planning for Second Miss to marry into the Prince of Rong’s family as well, perhaps even as a secondary consort after you!”

The thought of two sisters sharing a husband filled Shen Qianmo with disgust. No wonder Madam Cui had left with such glee—she likely believed that, with her face ruined, even if the Prince of Rong’s family didn’t break off the engagement, life there would be miserable. Then, if Shen Qianxue were married in as well, things would go all the more smoothly for them.

At this moment, Shen Qianmo only hoped the Prince of Rong’s family would hear of her disfigurement and call off the engagement. If things unfolded as Madam Cui planned, and the two sisters had to serve the same husband, dealing with Shen Qianxue’s capriciousness alone would drive her mad. She was determined, since fate had granted her a second life, to make the most of this body, to live vibrantly and do something meaningful.

She said to Lvzhu and Madam Xu, “Spread word to the Prince of Rong’s manor that my face is ruined—make it sound as dreadful as possible, so hideous it’s unbearable. I don’t believe, with Meng Yunce’s character, he won’t come to break off the engagement.”